Fire extinguisher system

ABSTRACT

A fire extinguisher being automatically actuated upon sensing an elevated temperature or manually actuated either at the extinguisher location or from a remote location. The fire extinguisher generally includes a cylinder containing fire extinguishing material and having an outlet passageway sealed by a rupturable membrane, a puncturing means biased in a direction to puncture the membrane and normally retained against the bias in a cocked position such that triggering of the puncturing means will puncture the membrane and permit egress of the fire extinguishing material from the cylinder in a predetermined, controlled direction, and means actuating or triggering the puncturing means. The actuating means includes a fusible link retaining the puncturing means against the bias in a cocked position so that melting of the link will cause the membrane to be punctured and the fire-extinguishing material dispersed. Also, the actuating means includes a manually operated triggering device releasable at the extinguisher location or remotely and normally retaining the puncturing means in a cocked position so that release of the manually operated device will cause the fireextinguishing material to be dispersed.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Charles K. l-luthsing, Jr.

Old School Road, Libertyville, 111. 60048 [21] Appl. No. 863,992 [22] Filed Oct. 6, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [54] FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM 1 1 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[51] Int. A62'c 35/36 [50] Field otSearch 169/1, 2,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 3,091,365 5/1963 Homer etal 169/26 X 3,180,524 4/1965 Shepard et a1. 169/42 X 3,245,474 4/1966 Romero 169/26 3,392,787 7/1968 169/26 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson ABSTRACT: A fire extinguisher being automatically actuated upon sensing an elevated temperature or manually actuated either at the extinguisher location or from a remote location. The fire extinguisher generally includes a cylinder containing fire extinguishing material and having an outlet passageway sealed by a rupturable membrane, a puncturing means biased in a direction to puncture the membrane and normally retained against the bias in a cocked position such that triggering of the puncturing means will puncture the membrane and permit egre'ss of the fire extinguishing material from the manually operated device will cause the fire-extinguishing material to be dispersed.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention refers to fire extinguishers, and more particularly relates to chemical-pressure-discharging fire extinguishers with both fusible and manually operated actuating means.

2. Description of the Prior Art Fire extinguishers of a chemical-pressure-discharging type and having a spring bias plunger overlying a rupturable membrane sealing a discharge opening of a cylinder containing a chemical fire extinguishing material have been proposed heretofore, and an example of such a fire extinguisher employing a fusible link is described in the copending patent application of Mark E. Balmes, Sr., Ser. No. 690,643, now US. Pat. No. 3,547,20l and assigned to General Fire Extinguisher Corporation.

If, for reasons of improper manufacture or due to the fusible link being shielded from a fire, the link fails to melt, the fire extinguisher is rendered completely ineffective. Normally, a fire extinguisher including a heat sensitive actuating means is mounted with a discharge opening thereof directed to disperse the fire-extinguishing material over a preselected area to provide an automatic fire-extinguishing system.

Although, the prior art includes means for automatically actuating the fire extinguisher upon sensing an elevated temperature, such prior art apparatus have not included a satisfactory backup system to actuate the extinguisher in the event the fusible link or other automatic sensing device fails to actuate. Such fire extinguishers of the type described have been found to be particularly applicable to marine usage where even a small fire may result in a major disaster, it has been found to be advantageous to provide a virtually foolproof fire extinguisher.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A fire extinguisher, constructed in accordance with the present invention, generally includes a shell or container for receiving pressurized fire-extinguishing material and having an outlet passageway sealed by a rupturable membrane or disk, a housing mounted on the shell and provided with discharge orifice therein, a downwardly biased plunger mounted in overlying relation with respect to the rupturable membrane, and releasable actuating means normally retaining the plunger against its bias in a cocked position so that upon releasing the actuating means the plunger will move relative to the housing into piercing contact with the rupturable membrane to enable the fire-extinguishing material to be released from the shell through the discharge orifice. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing comprises an elongated member having a bore passing longitudinally therethrough and aligned with the rupturable membrane, and the plunger includes a generally U-shaped member with one leg thereof disposed within the housing bore. A spring is disposed within the housing bore and engages the plunger for normally urging the latter into piercing contact with the rupturable membrane. A second leg of the U-shaped plunger extends along an outside surface of the housing and passes through an aperture formed in an attachment member extending laterally outwardly of the housing.

In accordance with the present invention, both manual and automatic means are provided for normally retaining the plunger in an uppermost position against the biasing force of the spring and out of contact with the rupturable membrane so that upon release of the actuating means the plunger will move under the influence of the spring into piercing contact with the rupturable membrane to enable the fire-extinguishing material to be released from the shell. The actuating means includes a support member extending laterally outwardly from the housing adjacent to the second leg of the plunger and having an end portion thereof slidably inserted into an aperture formed in the attachment member and a fusible connecting link having an aperture formed in one end portion thereof and engaging the support member and also having a second aperture formed in an opposite end portion and engaging a laterally projecting section extending from the second leg of the U- shaped plunger. The fusible connecting link is of a length to normally retain the plunger in an uppermost position out of piercing contact with the rupturable membrane.

With the actuating means so constructed, either removal of the support member from the retaining apertures or melting of the connecting link will cause the plunger to move under the influence of the spring into piercing contact with the rupturable member, thereby to cause discharge of the fire-extinguishing material.

Also, in accordance with the present invention, means located remote from the fire extinguisher are provided for removing the support member to actuate the plunger. The 4 remotely located means for removing the support member generally include a cable having one end portion thereof secured to the support member and having an opposite end portion thereof secured to a remotely located actuating handle. Therefore, if the connecting link fails to fuse and a fire prevents access to the fire extinguisher, the extinguisher may still be actuated by the remotely located handle.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved fire extinguisher system having both automatic and manual operation.

Another object of the present invention relates to the provision of a remotely located means for actuating a fire extinguisher.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fire extinguisher including a rupturable disk and a spring biased rupturing means retained out of piercing contact with the membrane by a fusible connecting link disposed at one side of the extinguisher and including a removable support member to permit manual actuation of the rupturing means, either at the fire extinguisher or from a remote location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a fire extinguisher system embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the fire extinguisher illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view of the fire extinguisher illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 with certain parts shown in elevation and with a puncturing means shown in a cocked position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 4 with the puncturing means shown in piercing contact with a rupturable membrane; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. I with certain parts shown in elevation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, a fire extinguisher system embodying the features of the present invention is indicated generally at reference numeral 10. The fire extinguisher system 10 generally includes a fire extinguisher 11 having a metallic shell or container 12 composed of a pair of sections telescoped together and sealed by means of copper brazing or other suitable securement means. The shell 12 contains a pressurized, chemical-fire-extinguishing material, and excellent results may be obtained by utilizing various types of Freon, such as "FE-l 30 l as the fire-extinguishing material.

An outlet fitting I3 is sealed into a flanged opening 14 formed in an upper end portion of the shell 12. The outlet fitting 13 is an elongated cylindrical member having a bore 16 formed longitudinally therethrough. A lower end portion of the through bore 16 is sized to fittingly receive a hollow syphon tube 17 which extends downwardly into an interior of the shell 1 1 and is characterized by a bevelled, lowermost end portion 18 positioned adjacent a bottom wall 19 of the shell. A through bore 21 formed in the hollow syphon tube 17 fon'ns an outlet passageway for the pressurized, chemical-fire-extinguishing material contained within the shell 1 l and opens into the bore 16 ofthe outlet fitting 13.

The fire-extinguishing material is contained within the shell 11 by a rupturable membrane 22 sealing the through bore 16 of the outlet fitting 13. The through bore 16 of the outlet fitting 13 has an enlarged portion 23 fonned opposite the syphon tube 17 and providing a shoulder 24 coextensive with an uppermost end portion 26 of the syphon tube. A plastic seal ring 27 seats against both the shoulder 24 and the uppermost end portion 26 of the syphon tube 17. The rupturable membrane 22 overlies the plastic seal ring 27 and is retained in position by a retaining ring 28.

The retaining ring 28 has a through bore 29 formed therein in alignment with the bore 21 of the syphon tube 17 and also has an externally threaded portion 31 engaging complementary threads formed in the enlarged portion 23 of the through bore 16 formed in the outlet fitting 13. The retaining ring 28 is threaded into the outlet fitting 13 until an internal shoulder 32 thereof securely seats against the rupturable membrane 22 causing the plastic seal ring 27 to be squeezed between the membrane and both the shoulder 24 and the uppermost end portion 27 of the syphon tube 17, thereby to seal the membrane in position across the discharge passageway leading from the shell 12.

in accordance with the present invention, means are provided for puncturing the rupturable membrane 22 to cause the pressurized, chemical-fire-extinguishing material to be discharged from the shell 12. The puncturing means generally includes a housing 34, a plunger 36 and a spring 37 for urging the plunger toward the membrane 22. The housing 34 includes an elongated, cylindrical member characterized by a through bore 38 formed therein and divided into upper and lower portions by an inwardly projecting, annular flange 39. The bore 38 has an enlarged, threaded portion 41 forming a shoulder 42. The housing 34 is secured to the outlet fitting 13 of the shell 12 by engaging the threaded portion 41 over complementarily formed threads as at 43 on the outlet fitting. A seal between the housing 34 and the outlet fitting 13 is provided by a gasket 44 interposed between the shoulder 42 and an uppermost end 46 of the outlet fitting.

A cap 47 having an enlarged head portion 48 and a threaded portion 49 engages a complementarily threaded portion of the bore 38, thereby to close an uppennost end portion of the bore 38. The cap 47 as characterized by an aperture 51 in alignment with a reduced diameter portion 52 formed in the bore 38 by the flange 39.

The plunger 36 includes a substantially U-shaped member having a first leg 53 passing through the aligned apertures 51 and 52 formed respectively in the cap 47 and the housing 34, a short medial portion 54 and a second leg 55 extending parallel to the first leg and adjacent to the housing 34. The first leg 53 of the plunger 36 is provided with a hollow, terminal end portion 56 characterized by a plurality of radially extending passageways 57 opening from an elongated recess 58. The hollow end 56 is bevelled as at 59 to form a sharp point for piercing the membrane 22.

The spring 37 is retained within the housing 34 by the cap 47 and a lowermost end portion of the spring seats against a washer 62 fitted over the first leg 53 of the plunger 36 and retained thereon against downward movement relative to the plunger by a roll pin 63 inserted through the plunger. With this assembly, the spring 37 urges the plunger 36 downwardly toward the membrane 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the second leg 55 of the plunger 36 passes through a notch 66 formed in an attachment bracket 67. The attachment bracket 67 has a substantially annular portion 68 interposed between the enlarged head 48 of the cap 47 and an uppermost end portion of the housing 34, thereby to securely clamp the attachment bracket to the housing. The second leg 55 of the substantially U-shaped plunger 36 terminates in a reverse bend forming a short stub section 69 characterized by a circumferentially formed groove 71.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an actuating means is provided for normally retaining the plunger 36 against the bias of the spring 37 and out of contact with the rupturable membrane 22 and for releasing the plunger to permit the spring to urge the hollow end portion into piercing contact with the membrane. The actuating means 72 may be automatically triggered by sensing an elevated temperature or manually controlled and generally includes a releasable support bracket 73 and a fusible connecting link 74. The releasable support bracket 73 has a forkshaped configuration providing a pair of parallel legs 76, 76 extending from a body portion 77. The attachment bracket 67 has a pair of bosses 78, 78 straddling the notch 66. Each boss 78 is characterized by an aperture 79 for receiving one of the legs 76 of the releasable support bracket 73. The apertures 79, 79 are sized to loosely receive the legs 76 and have a longitudinal length to retain the releasable bracket in a horizontal position when the legs thereof are fully inserted into the apertures.

The fusible connecting link 74 comprises an upper link member and a lower link member, respectively, 81 and 82 joined together along a juncture line, indicated at 83, by suitable means which will permit separation of the link members 81 and 82 when the connecting link 74 is subjected to an elevated temperature. The connecting link 74 has a pair of apertures 84, 84 passing through opposed end portions thereof, with one aperture engaging the body portion 77 of the releasable support bracket 73 and with the other aperture fitted over the stub portion 69 of the plunger 36 and engaging the circum ferential groove 71. The apertures 84, 84 are spaced apart so that with the connecting link interconnecting the releasable support bracket 73 with the stub portion 69 of the plunger 36, the plunger 36 is retained in an uppermost position against the biasing force of the spring 37 and with the hollow end 56 out of contact with the membrane 22. Therefore, the actuating means 72 normally retains the plunger 36 in a cocked position and out of contact with the membrane.

The actuating means 72 will automatically trigger the plunger 36 whenever the connecting link 74 is subjected to an elevated temperature causing the upper link member 81 to separate from the lower link member 82. Also, the plunger 36 will be triggered whenever the releasable support bracket 73 is manually removed from the supporting apertures 79 formed in the attachment bracket 67, and thus, the present invention includes an actuating means providing either automatic actuation of the fire extinguisher or manual control thereof.

Also, it is contemplated by the present invention to provide remotely located control means for releasing the support bracket 73 causing actuation of the fire extinguisher. The remote control means generally includes a handle operated control box indicated generally at 91 and a cable 92 connecting the control box to the releasable support bracket 73.

The control box 91 includes a box member 93 secured to a wall 94 by suitable means, such as screws as indicated at 96, and a cover plate 97 supporting an operating handle 98. The operating handle 98 comprises a mounting coupling 101 characterized by a cylindrical through bore 102, a reciprocating portion 103 inserted into the bore 102 and having a bifurcated end portion as at 104 characterized by a pair of aligned apertures 106, and a pull-type lever 107 pivo'tally connected to the reciprocating portion 103 by a pin 108 passing through the aligned apertures 107 and a complementary aperture formed in the lever. The lever 107 coacts with the coupling 101 to move the reciprocating portion 103 outwardly of the box 93 whenever the lever is pulled outwardly and upwardly.

Also, the reciprocating portion 103 provides a slot 109 for receiving an end portion of the cable 92 and a pair of set screws 111 screwed into engagement with the cable 92,

thereby to secure an end portion of the cable to the operating handle.

The control cable extends from the operating handle 98 through a tube 112 to the releasable support bracket 73. One end portion of the tube is secured to the box 93 by means of a suitable coupling 1113, and another end portion of the tube terminates adjacent to the fire extinguisher 11.

An aperture 114 is formed in the body portion 77 of the releasable support bracket 73, and one end portion of the cable 92 is formed into a loop as at 116 and engages the aperture 114. A clamp 117 is provided to secure the loop 116. With this construction, whenever the lever 107 is pulled outwardly and upwardly as indicated in FIG. 6 by arrow 118, the control cable moves in a direction to remove the releasable support bracket 73 from the retaining apertures 79, thereby to cause actuation of the fire extinguisher.

The fire extinguisher 11 is secured to the wall 941 by means of a wall-mounting bracket 121 and is provided with a discharge head 122 for dispersing the pressurized, chemicalfire-extinguishing material in a controlled and directed manner. The discharge head 122, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes a coupling 123 engaging the housing 34 and characterized by a discharge passage 124 extending from the bore 38 of the housing and terminating in a plurality of radially extending discharge orifices as at 126, and a deflector 127. The deflector 127 cooperates with the plurality of discharge orifices 1126 to direct the dispersion of the chemicalfire-extinguishing material over a predetermined area.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon, all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fire extinguisher system comprising:

a shell containing pressurized fire-extinguishing material and having an outlet passageway;

a housing mounted on said shell overlying said outlet' passageway and having a discharge orifice formed therein and a passageway extending from said shell outlet passageway to said discharge orifice;

a rupturable membrane positioned in said shell outlet for containing the fire-extinguishing material within said shell;

means forming a plunger aligned with said membrane and disposed in said housing for reciprocal movement relative thereto between a cocked position wherein said plunger is out of contact with said membrane and in a piercing position wherein said plunger is in piercing contact with said membrane;

biasing means urging said plunger toward the piercing position; and

actuating means normally retaining said plunger means in the cocked position and selectively releasing said plunger to pennit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position for rupturing said membrane and causing the pressurized fire-extinguishing material to disperse through said discharge passageway and said discharge orifice, said actuating means releasing said plunger in response either to sensing an elevated temperature or to manual manipulations of said actuating means, said means comprising plunger support means including a manually movable support member,

means supporting said support member on said housing for movement selectively between a supporting position and a released position,

temperature-responsive means extending between said movable support member and said plunger, said means normally preventing relative movement between said support member and said plunger to retain said plunger in the cooked position and enabling relative movement between said plunger and said movable support upon being subjected to an elevated temperature above a predetermined level,

whereby movement of said support member to the released position or subjecting said temperature-responsive means to an elevated temperature will release said plunger to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position for rupturing said membrane.

2. A fire extinguisher system comprising:

a shell containing pressurized fire-extinguishing material and having an outlet passageway;

a housing mounted on said shell overlying said outlet passageway and having a discharge orifice formed therein and a passageway extending from said shell outlet passageway to said discharge orifice;

a rupturable membrane closing said shell outlet for containing the fire-extinguishing material within said shell;

means forming a plunger aligned with said membrane and disposed in said housing for reciprocal movement relative thereto between a cocked position wherein said plunger is out of contact with said membrane and in a piercing position wherein said plunger is in piercing contact with said membrane;

biasing means urging said plunger toward the piercing position; and

actuating means normally retaining said plunger means in the cocked position and selectively releasing said plunger to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position for rupturing said membrane and causing the pressurized fire-extinguishing material to disperse through said discharge passageway and said discharge orifice, said actuating means releasing said plunger in response either to sensing an elevated temperature or to manual manipulations thereof, said actuating means comprising,

means attached to said housing and fonning at least one aperture;

means forming a support member having a portion thereof removably inserted into said aperture; and

means forming a fusible link engaging both said plunger and said removable support means to normally retain said plunger in the cocked position,

whereby, either fusing of said link means or removal of said support means from said aperture will permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position causing said membrane to rupture.

3. A fire extinguisher system as defined in claim 2 and further comprising:

means located remote from said shell forming a control handle; and

means interconnecting said control handle and said removable support means to transmit movement of said handle means to said support means,

whereby, movement of said handle will pull said support means from said aperture to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position causing said membrane to rupture.

4. A fire extinguisher system as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by said control handle means including:

mounting means attached to a support surface; a member mounted in said mounting means for reciprocal movement relative thereto;

a manually operated lever pivotally attached to said reciprocally mounted member and coacting with a portion of said mounting means for moving said reciprocally mounted member outwardly of said mounting means when said lever is arcuately moved; and

said interconnecting means comprising a cable having opposite end portions thereof respectively connected to said removable support means and said reciprocally mounted member.

5. A fire extinguisher system as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by said means forming a plunger including:

a generally U-shaped member having a first leg disposed within said housing for reciprocal movement relative thereto and also having a second leg parallel to said first leg and connected thereto by a medial portion and extending adjacent an exterior of said housing, a terminal end portion of said second leg having a reverse bend forming a stub portion extending outwardly of said housing;

said fusible link engaging both said stub portion of said plunger means and said removable supportto form a connection therebetween to normally retain said plunger in the cocked position.

6. A fire extinguisher system comprising:

a shell containing pressurized fire-extinguishing material and having an outlet passageway;

a housing mounted on said shell overlying said outlet passageway and having a discharge orifice formed therein and a passageway extending from said shell outlet passageway to said discharge orifice;

a syphon tube having an upper end portion thereof engaged with said outlet passage of said shell and extending downwardly to a terminal end portion formed adjacent a lower wall surface of an interior of said shell;

a rupturable membrane sealing said syphon tube for containing the fire-extinguishing material within said shell;

means forming a plunger aligned with said membrane and disposed in said housing for reciprocal movement relative thereto between a cocked position wherein said plunger is out of contact with said membrane and in a piercing position wherein said plunger is in piercing contact with said membrane;

biasing means urging said plunger toward the piercing position; and

actuating means normally retaining said plunger means in the cocked position and selectively releasing said plunger to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position for rupturing said membrane and causing the pressurized fire-extinguishing material to disperse through said discharge passageway and said discharge orifice, said actuating means releasing said plunger in response either to sensing an elevated temperature or to manual manipulations of the actuating means.

7. A fire extinguisher system as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by:

said apertured means attached to said housing having an annular portion secured to said housing by a cap member threaded into said housing and also having a pair of bosses extending laterally outwardly of said housing with each of said bosses having an aperture formed therein; and

said means forming said support member having a forked end portion providing a pair of parallel legs, with each said leg inserted into one of said apertures of said bosses.

8, in a fire extinguisher system including a rupturable disk sealing an outlet passageway and a plunger movable between a cocked position out of contact with the rupturable disk and a piercing position in piercing contact with the rupturable disk and biasing means urging the plunger toward the piercing position, actuating means normally retaining the plunger in the cocked position and selectively releasing the plunger in response either to sensing an elevated temperature or to manual manipulation and comprising:

means attached to said fire extinguisher and forming at least one aperture; means forming a support member having a portion thereof removably inserted into said aperture; and means forming a fusible link engaging both said removable support means and the plunger to normally retain the plunger in the cocked position,

whereby, either fusing of said link means or removal of said support from said aperture will permit the biasing means to move the plunger to the piercing position causing said membrane to rupture.

9. A fire extinguisher system as defined in claim 8 and further comprising:

means located remote from said shell forming a control handle' means iiit iarconnecting said control handle and said removable support means to transmit movement of said handle means to said support means,

whereby, movement of said handle will pull said support means from said aperture to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position causing said membrane to rupture.

10. A fire extinguisher system as defined in claim 8 and further characterized by:

said apertured means attached to said housing having an annular portion secured to said housing by a cap member threaded into said housing and also having a pair of bosses extending laterally outwardly of said housing with each of said bosses having an aperture formed therein; and

said means forming said support member having a forked end portion providing a pair of parallel legs, with each said leg inserted into one of said apertures of said bosses.

11. A fire extinguisher system comprising:

a shell containing pressurized fire-extinguishing material and having an outlet passageway;

a housing mounted on said shell overlying said outlet passageway and having a discharge orifice formed therein and a passageway extending from said shell outlet passageway to said discharge orifice; said housing including an elongated coupling member extending outwardly of said housing and having a plurality of radially extending discharge orifices formed therein in fluid communication with said housing passageway extending from said shell outlet;

a deflector member forming a wall surface outwardly of said discharge orifices and substantially normal thereto for directing dispersion of fire-extinguishing material discharged through said orifices;

a rupturable membrane positioned in said shell outlet for containing the fire-extinguishing material within said shell;

means forming a plunger aligned with said membrane and disposed in said housing for reciprocal movement relative thereto between a cocked position wherein said plunger is out of contact with said membrane and in a piercing contact with said membrane;

biasing means urging said plunger toward the piercing position; and

actuating means normally retaining said plunger means in the cocked position and selectively releasing said plunger to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position for rupturing said membrane and causing the pressurized fire-extinguishing material to disperse through said discharge passageway and said discharge orifice, said actuating means releasing said plunger in response either to sensing an elevated temperature or to manual manipulations of the actuating means. 

1. A fire extinguisher system comprising: a shell containing pressurized fire-extinguishing material and having an outlet passageway; a housing mounted on said shell overlying said outlet passageway and having a discharge orifice formed therein and a passageway extending from said shell outlet passageway to said discharge orifice; a rupturable membrane positioned in said shell outlet for containing the fire-extinguishing material within said shell; means forming a plunger aligned with said membrane and disposed in said housing for reciprocal movement relative thereto between a cocked position wherein said plunger is out of contact with said membrane and in a piercing position wherein said plunger is in piercing contact with said membrane; biasing means urging said plunger toward the piercing position; and actuating means normally retaining said plunger means in the cocked position and selectively releasing said plunger to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position for rupturing said membrane and causing the pressurized fire-extinguishing material to disperse through said discharge passageway and said discharge orifice, said actuating means releasing said plunger in response either to sensing an elevated temperature or to manual manipulations of said actuating means, said means comprising plunger support means including a manually movable support member, means supporting said support member on said housing for movement selectively between a supporting position and a released position, temperature-responsive means extending between said movable support member and said plunger, said means normally preventing relative movement between said support member and said plunger to retain said plunger in the cocked position and enabling relative movement between said plunger and said movable support upon being subjected to an elevated temperature above a predetermined level, whereby movement of said support member to the released position or subjecting said temperature-responsive means to an elevated temperature will release said plunger to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position for rupturing said membrane.
 2. A fire extinguisher system comprising: a shell containing pressurized fire-extinguishing material and having an outlet passageway; a housing mounted on said shell overlying said outlet passageway and having a discharge orifice formed therein and a passageway extending from said shell outlet passageway to said discharge orifice; a rupturable membrane closing said shell outlet for containing the fire-extinguishing material within said shell; means forming a plunger aligned with said membrane and disposed in said housing for reciprocal movement relative thereto between a cocked position wherein said plunger is out of contact with said membrane and in a piercing position wherein said plunger is in piercing contact with said membrane; biasing means urging said plunger toward the piercing position; and actuating means normally retaining said plunger means in the cocked position and selectively releasing said plunger to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position for rupturing said membrane and causing the pressurized fire-extinguishing material to disperse through said discharge passageway and said discharge orifice, said actuating means releasing said plunger in response either to sensing an elevated temperature or to manual manipulations thereof, said actuating means comprising, means attached to said housing and forming at least one aperture; means forming a support member having a portion thereof removably inserted into said aperture; and means forming a fusible link engaging both said plunger and said removable support means to normally retain said plunger in the cocked position, whereby, either fusing of said link means or removal of said support means from said aperture Will permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position causing said membrane to rupture.
 3. A fire extinguisher system as defined in claim 2 and further comprising: means located remote from said shell forming a control handle; and means interconnecting said control handle and said removable support means to transmit movement of said handle means to said support means, whereby, movement of said handle will pull said support means from said aperture to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position causing said membrane to rupture.
 4. A fire extinguisher system as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by said control handle means including: mounting means attached to a support surface; a member mounted in said mounting means for reciprocal movement relative thereto; a manually operated lever pivotally attached to said reciprocally mounted member and coacting with a portion of said mounting means for moving said reciprocally mounted member outwardly of said mounting means when said lever is arcuately moved; and said interconnecting means comprising a cable having opposite end portions thereof respectively connected to said removable support means and said reciprocally mounted member.
 5. A fire extinguisher system as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by said means forming a plunger including: a generally U-shaped member having a first leg disposed within said housing for reciprocal movement relative thereto and also having a second leg parallel to said first leg and connected thereto by a medial portion and extending adjacent an exterior of said housing, a terminal end portion of said second leg having a reverse bend forming a stub portion extending outwardly of said housing; said fusible link engaging both said stub portion of said plunger means and said removable support to form a connection therebetween to normally retain said plunger in the cocked position.
 6. A fire extinguisher system comprising: a shell containing pressurized fire-extinguishing material and having an outlet passageway; a housing mounted on said shell overlying said outlet passageway and having a discharge orifice formed therein and a passageway extending from said shell outlet passageway to said discharge orifice; a syphon tube having an upper end portion thereof engaged with said outlet passage of said shell and extending downwardly to a terminal end portion formed adjacent a lower wall surface of an interior of said shell; a rupturable membrane sealing said syphon tube for containing the fire-extinguishing material within said shell; means forming a plunger aligned with said membrane and disposed in said housing for reciprocal movement relative thereto between a cocked position wherein said plunger is out of contact with said membrane and in a piercing position wherein said plunger is in piercing contact with said membrane; biasing means urging said plunger toward the piercing position; and actuating means normally retaining said plunger means in the cocked position and selectively releasing said plunger to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position for rupturing said membrane and causing the pressurized fire-extinguishing material to disperse through said discharge passageway and said discharge orifice, said actuating means releasing said plunger in response either to sensing an elevated temperature or to manual manipulations of the actuating means.
 7. A fire extinguisher system as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by: said apertured means attached to said housing having an annular portion secured to said housing by a cap member threaded into said housing and also having a pair of bosses extending laterally outwardly of said housing with each of said bosses having an aperture formed therein; and said means forming said support member having a forked end portion providing a pair of parallel legs, wiTh each said leg inserted into one of said apertures of said bosses.
 8. In a fire extinguisher system including a rupturable disk sealing an outlet passageway and a plunger movable between a cocked position out of contact with the rupturable disk and a piercing position in piercing contact with the rupturable disk and biasing means urging the plunger toward the piercing position, actuating means normally retaining the plunger in the cocked position and selectively releasing the plunger in response either to sensing an elevated temperature or to manual manipulation and comprising: means attached to said fire extinguisher and forming at least one aperture; means forming a support member having a portion thereof removably inserted into said aperture; and means forming a fusible link engaging both said removable support means and the plunger to normally retain the plunger in the cocked position, whereby, either fusing of said link means or removal of said support from said aperture will permit the biasing means to move the plunger to the piercing position causing said membrane to rupture.
 9. A fire extinguisher system as defined in claim 8 and further comprising: means located remote from said shell forming a control handle; and means interconnecting said control handle and said removable support means to transmit movement of said handle means to said support means, whereby, movement of said handle will pull said support means from said aperture to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position causing said membrane to rupture.
 10. A fire extinguisher system as defined in claim 8 and further characterized by: said apertured means attached to said housing having an annular portion secured to said housing by a cap member threaded into said housing and also having a pair of bosses extending laterally outwardly of said housing with each of said bosses having an aperture formed therein; and said means forming said support member having a forked end portion providing a pair of parallel legs, with each said leg inserted into one of said apertures of said bosses.
 11. A fire extinguisher system comprising: a shell containing pressurized fire-extinguishing material and having an outlet passageway; a housing mounted on said shell overlying said outlet passageway and having a discharge orifice formed therein and a passageway extending from said shell outlet passageway to said discharge orifice; said housing including an elongated coupling member extending outwardly of said housing and having a plurality of radially extending discharge orifices formed therein in fluid communication with said housing passageway extending from said shell outlet; a deflector member forming a wall surface outwardly of said discharge orifices and substantially normal thereto for directing dispersion of fire-extinguishing material discharged through said orifices; a rupturable membrane positioned in said shell outlet for containing the fire-extinguishing material within said shell; means forming a plunger aligned with said membrane and disposed in said housing for reciprocal movement relative thereto between a cocked position wherein said plunger is out of contact with said membrane and in a piercing contact with said membrane; biasing means urging said plunger toward the piercing position; and actuating means normally retaining said plunger means in the cocked position and selectively releasing said plunger to permit said biasing means to move said plunger to the piercing position for rupturing said membrane and causing the pressurized fire-extinguishing material to disperse through said discharge passageway and said discharge orifice, said actuating means releasing said plunger in response either to sensing an elevated temperature or to manual manipulations of the actuating means. 